Los Angeles-based creative studio Eskimo has strengthened its directorial roster with the addition of indie-bred filmmaker, Nicole Dorsey. The Toronto native brings a multi-faceted skillset to Eskimo, having not only worked on short and long-form films, but commercials for the likes of Arla, Nike, Nestle and Kashi.

Drawing inspiration from a variety of filmmakers ranging from Paul Thomas Anderson to French auteur, Céline Sciamma, Dorsey infuses what she calls “natural formalism” into every project, whether it be for spots or larger narrative pieces. “I love movement and hand-held camerawork, natural light, but without falling into documentary form,” she explains. “I do love to really compose shots and I think a lot about cuts, moving from one image to the next, whether it be through movement of the camera or the subject. It’s all very structured.”

Dorsey, whose love for the lens traces back to her early days cutting 16-millimeter film by hand, has kept busy for the better part of a decade, bringing her unique vision to not just commercials but festival films such as Dennis, short-form efforts like Star Princess and Ivadelle, as well as her recent feature-length screenplay with Vancouver workshop, Women in the Director’s Chair. Adding to her prolific reputation, writer/director Dorsey has also co-created a half-hour series that’s currently in development called Fraternal Love, which is being produced by JASH, the comedy network run by entertainment industry notables including Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera and Reggie Watts.

Turning her focus back on to the commercial field, Dorsey has found an ideal outlet to hone her craft in the ad space at Eskimo. According to the studio’s founder/director Terry Rayment, it’s Dorsey’s organic, steady approach – among other traits – that he finds very appealing. “There are two things to look at with directors: Having style and being consistent,” he says. “One thing Nicole has is a very clear visual style in her work that cuts through the clutter. She has this combination of making things feel real with cinematic tendencies and hybrid documentary style. It’s all set up for a commercial but it feels very real, authentic but with a certain level of restraint. That’s really important for us.”

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About Eskimo:

Eskimo is a dog-friendly, award-winning creative studio working in design, filmmaking, and general creative endeavors. We partner with brands and advertising agencies on creative ideation, production, and finishing for commercial and entertainment content. Located in Los Angeles, CA and Philadelphia, PA, Eskimo houses a small team of directors who work extremely hands-on with all spots we create.